The Victoria native is known for writing smart, funny supernatural mystery novels such as "Texas Gothic" and "Prom Dates From Hell."

The Read Out also will feature UHV and VC students and faculty members reading passages from several banned books.

Another noteworthy event will be a noon presentation Thursday at the library by Jeffrey Sartain, a UHV humanities lecturer and the American Book Review managing editor.

Sartain will talk about the history of censorship and banning books.

"I think it's important to look at that reason because if we shelter children from certain types of reading or perspectives, how are they able to deal with those perspectives when they encounter them in the real world?" Sartain said.

Diana López, a UHV English lecturer, will read from her new book "Choke" at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the library.

She said this year's recognition of banned books is especially important given the events this past year in Tucson, Ariz.

Tucson school leaders banned books by Chicano and Native American authors after state politicians shut down the Tucson Unified School District's ethnic studies program.

Among the many books banned were those written by Dagoberto Gilb, a UHV professor and executive director of CentroVictoria, a center for Mexican American literature and culture.

"The good part of the ban is it has organized people to fight against it," López said.